Amnesty International blasts DR for deportations

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic 
Amnesty International is criticizing the Dominican Republic for deporting more than 1,000 Haitian migrants amid a crackdown fueled by cholera fears.

The rights group says the government should step up efforts to help its earthquake-shattered neighbor and stop forcing people back to what it calls a desperate situation.

Amnesty senior adviser Javier Zuniga said in a statement Friday that Haitians suspected of being infected with cholera should be treated, not deported.

Dominican officials say the crackdown is needed to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants since last year's earthquake and stop the spread of cholera, which has killed more than 3,000 in Haiti and sickened nearly 150 in the Dominican Republic.